Bashir El-Rufai, son of former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, has come under intense criticism after he issued a death threat to a social media user who made a derogatory remark directed at his mother, Hadiza El-Rufai.
According to reports by Naija News, the heated exchange was triggered by Hadiza El-Rufai’s comments on the United States travel ban, which affected Nigeria and three other African countries. In a tweet, the former First Lady highlighted that many Nigerians thriving abroad are of Igbo origin. Her post drew mixed reactions, with some users supporting her view and others launching personal attacks.
Undeterred, Hadiza responded to the backlash, asserting her right to free expression despite the online hostility. “No cyberbully can take away my right to express my opinion. Not everything is about politics; but that is something some of you will never understand,” she wrote on 𝕏 (formerly Twitter).
However, the situation escalated when a user with the handle @jussstice09 responded with an offensive message: “You no go die well ma.”
In a now-deleted post, Bashir El-Rufai lashed out, threatening to locate the user and harm them and their family. His response read: “If you ever utter that phrase to my mother again & delete that tweet, I am going to find you (it’s easier than you think) & unalive you & your family.”
The comment, which quickly went viral before being taken down, has sparked widespread condemnation across social media platforms. Many users criticized Bashir’s reaction as extreme and called for responsible use of online platforms by public figures and their relatives.
The controversy highlights the growing tension between public figures and social media users in Nigeria, especially on issues involving personal attacks, ethnic identity, and free speech.
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